At The Crossroads

ATC REACHES OUT TO HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AND WORKS WITH THEM TO BUILD HEALTHY AND FULFILLING LIVES. WE REMOVE COMMON BARRIERS TO SERVICE BY BRINGING OUR COUNSELORS ONTO THE STREETS AND SHAPING OUR SUPPORT SERVICES AROUND THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CLIENT.

AT THE CROSSROADS (ATC) WORKS WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ON THE STREETS IN THE DOWNTOWN/TENDERLOIN AREA OF SAN FRANCISCO WHO ARE HOMELESS OR UNSTABLY HOUSED AND NOT ACCESSING SERVICES ELSEWHERE. ATC SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE PASSED OVER, KICKED OUT, OR EXISTING SERVICES ARE NOT A GOOD FIT. AT THE CROSSROADS' THREE PRIMARY PROGRAMS ARE NIGHTTIME STREET OUTREACH, ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING (WHICH INCLUDES REFERRALS TO EXTERNAL PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY FOR OUR CLIENTS), AND OUR FOOD AND SUPPLY SUPPORT PROGRAM. STREET OUTREACH CURRENTLY OCCURS TWO NIGHTS A WEEK. COUNSELORS WALK THE STREETS OF THE DOWNTOWN/TENDERLOIN AREA AND OFFER MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES LIKE FOOD, HYGIENE ITEMS, AND SOCKS. WHEN THEY SEE US NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, INDIVIDUALS SLOWLY BEGIN TO TRUST US AND TURN TO US FOR SUPPORT. ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING IS WHEN COUNSELORS MEET WITH INDIVIDUALS DURING THE DAYTIME WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING HEALTHY, LONG-TERM, UNCONDITIONALLY SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS. THROUGH THESE RELATIONSHIPS WE HELP CLIENTS IDENTIFY AND ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS, DEVELOPING THE TOOLS AND PLANS TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN. WE CONNECT CLIENTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES THAT CAN ASSIST IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS?INCLUDING HOUSING ATTAINMENT, EMPLOYMENT READINESS, AND ADDRESSING MORE SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES. WE SUPPORT CLIENTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND HELP NAVIGATE CHALLENGES IF THEY COME UP. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ATC DISSEMINATED APPROXIMATELY $122,586 WORTH OF SUPPLIES, INCLUDING HOT MEALS, FRESH GROCERIES, FOOD BOXES FROM OUR FOODBANK, HYGIENE AND HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES, AND CLOTHING. ATC ALSO MADE 3,694 CONTACTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 305 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH STREET OUTREACH AND HAD 1,884 CONVERSATIONS WITH 168 COUNSELING CLIENTS. 90% OF THESE CLIENTS ACHIEVED ONE OR MORE OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIFE GOALS, INCLUDING IMPROVING THEIR HOUSING, ADDRESSING THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS, FINDING EMPLOYMENT, AND RETURNING TO SCHOOL.